Mechanisms of Developing Critical Thinking Skills among Students in Agricultural Higher Education System

The purpose of this study was to identify mechanisms of critical thinking skills development and investigate the role of each of higher education pillars in improving students’ critical thinking skills. The research was a kind of descriptive-correlation and ex-post facto used survey technique for collecting data. The research population consisted of all students in different levels in agricultural colleges of public universities. By using Krejcie and Morgan’s Table and proportional stratified random sampling method 386 students were selected as sample group. California standard critical thinking questionnaire (form B), and a researcher made questionnaire were the main tools for data collecting. Content and face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed by a panel of agricultural extension and education specialists and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. Findings showed that students are in low level of critical thinking and there were significant difference among agricultural colleges regarding students’ critical skills score. Based on another part of research results, implementation of critical thinking mechanisms were in low level in agricultural colleges. In comparison with different pillars of higher education system, instructors and environment have high and low roles in implementation of critical thinking mechanisms, respectively.